Stock Futures Pare Gains as Optimism Cooled by Data

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Stock futures were paring gains Thursday after some economic data cooled positive investor sentiment that was fueled by optimism that a fall over the so-called fiscal cliff would be averted.

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average were rising 58 points, or 53.89 points above fair value, at 13,015. Futures for the S&P 500 were up 7.90 points, or 7.17 points above fair value, at 1415. Futures for the Nasdaq were ahead by 17 points, or 13.73 points above fair value, at 2677.

The major U.S. stock averages surged Wednesday on fresh hopes that Democrats and Republicans will be able to work out a compromise during U.S. budget talks and avoid the fiscal cliff.

Both President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner made positive statements about the progress being made on Capitol Hill.

"Investors may be beginning to price in an increased likelihood of a fiscal cliff resolution before year end, as President Obama leverages social media and his reelection to pressure Republicans to accept either a compromise or the blame for falling off the cliff," noted Sam Stovall, chief equity strategist at S&P Capital IQ. "What's more, each slightly better-than-expected economic report that is ignored by investors who are focused almost exclusively on the cliff, may serve as an additional turn of the winch that may ultimately catapult equity prices progressively higher once investors feel confident that an improving economy won't be derailed."

The Labor Department reported Thursday that initial jobless claims for the week ended Nov. 24 were 393,000, a decrease of 23,000 from the previous week's upwardly revised figure of 416,000. The four-week moving average was 405,250, an increase of 7,500 from the previous week's average of 397,750.

Continuing claims for the week ended Nov. 17 were 3.287 million, a decrease of 70,000 from the preceding week's upwardly revised level of 3.357 million.

Economists were predicting Thursday that the Labor Department would report jobless claims of 390,000 and continuing claims of 3.323 million.

The second estimate on U.S. third-quarter gross domestic product showed a rise of 2.7%, compared with the previous 2% growth estimate. GDP was forecast to rise by 2.8%.

At 10 a.m., October pending home sales from the National Association of Realtors are predicted to have climbed by 0.8% after rising by 0.3% the previous month.

Overseas markets were stronger Thursday amid optimism on U.S. budgetary negotiations. The FTSE 100 in London was rising by 0.85%, while the DAX in Germany was up by 0.78%. Japan's Nikkei average and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index each closed up by 1%.

The Asian markets also got a lift as Japan's main opposition leader Shinzo Abe, who is tipped to become the next prime minister, continued to call for more aggressive monetary policy easing.

Gold for February delivery was rising $7.60 at $1,726.40 an ounce at the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, while January crude oil contracts were up $1.08 at $87.57 a barrel.

The benchmark 10-year Treasury was down 2/32, pushing the yield up to 1.637%. The dollar was off 0.27%, according to the U.S. dollar index.

In corporate news, Tiffany & Co.(:TIF), the upscale jewelry retailer, posted disappointing third-quarter results and cut full-year profit expectations as the company was challenged by continued high precious metal and diamond costs, economic weakness and a higher-than-expected tax rate.

Shares were tumbling by more than 7.5% in premarket trading.

Grocer Kroger (:KR) raised its fiscal 2012 adjusted earnings per share guidance after posting better-than-expected third-quarter results as identical supermarket sales growth, without fuel, came in at 3.2% in the quarter.

Shares were rising more than 3%.

Barnes & Noble(:BKS), the book seller, posted a second-quarter net loss of 4 cents a share, including the impact of its dividend on redeemable preferred shares, on revenue of $1.9 billion; analysts, on average, predicted a quarterly loss of 11 cents a share on revenue of $1.91 billion.

"We expect our two highly acclaimed new NOOK products, and our Microsoft partnership on Windows 8 to further fuel the growth of our digital business, and are encouraged by the promising start to the holidays in our retail and digital businesses," said William Lynch, CEO of Barnes & Noble.

Shares were rising 2%.

Walt Disney(:DIS), the media giant, announced Wednesday a 25% boost to its annual dividend, bringing the payout to 75 cents a share.

Shares were up over 1%.

Retailer Aeropostale(:ARO) provided Wednesday fourth-quarter earnings guidance of 36 cents to 41 cents a share, well below the consensus view for a profit of 54 cents a share.

Shares were tumbling 9.5%.

Japan's Sharp is in talks with Dell(:DELL), Intel(:INTC) and Qualcomm(:QCOM) about a possible capital injection to help it bolster its balance sheet, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the discussions.

NCR (:NCR) said Wednesday it agreed to acquire Israeli software company Retalix (:RTLX)for $30 a share, or $650 million.

Retalix shares were down 0.68%.

Workday(:WDAY) shares were rising by nearly 2.5% after the enterprise cloud-based applications provider posted a smaller-than-expected third-quarter loss and a better-than-expected current quarter revenue outlook.

Research In Motion (:RIMM) shares were surging 12% after being upgraded to buy from neutral at Goldman.